The Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, has dismissed as false and malicious a viral video in which one Mr. Jude Gbaboyor levelled grave allegations against the Administrator of the Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro.
The video, circulated on Facebook and said to have been recorded in the United States, accused Dr. Otuaro of murder, ritual practices and kidnapping, claims the PAP described as “outrageous, unfounded and deliberately concocted to mislead the public.”
In a statement issued yesterday by the Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator, Mr. Igoniko Oduma, the PAP said Gbaboyor’s call for Otuaro’s removal was “a desperate attempt to smear the Administrator and undermine the Programme’s ongoing reforms.”
Oduma noted that Gbaboyor, now allegedly a fugitive, fled Nigeria after he was invited by the police to respond to petitions bordering on cyberstalking and criminal intimidation.
He said the public should discountenance the video, stressing that Gbaboyor was dismissed from the Amnesty Programme several years ago for what he called “grossly unacceptable conduct.”
According to the statement, “This is not the first time Gbaboyor has made reckless and unsubstantiated claims against the PAP boss. His repeated campaign of calumny prompted the Administrator to formally petition relevant security agencies.”
The statement added that Gbaboyor bolted out of the country immediately after the Nigeria Police Force invited him for questioning.
“It is instructive that Gbaboyor’s relentless attacks began only after Dr. Otuaro declined his request for reinstatement into the Amnesty Office, where he was dismissed years ago for lack of character,” the PAP noted.
“Having failed to secure reemployment through proper channels, he has resorted to character assassination and the circulation of falsehoods.”
The PAP also faulted Gbaboyor’s appeal to the President of the United States to intervene in what it described as a “purely personal issue under Nigeria’s jurisdiction,” calling it an affront to the nation’s sovereignty.
The Programme urged the public to disregard the allegations, saying if Gbaboyor was convinced of his claims, he should return to Nigeria and present evidence before the appropriate authorities.
“Instead, his escape from lawful police invitation and continued attacks from abroad reveal the true motive of his campaign; an attempt to malign a public official from a safe distance,” the statement added.
Reaffirming confidence in Dr. Otuaro’s leadership, the PAP said the Programme remains focused on sustaining peace and development in the Niger Delta and will not be distracted by “spurious allegations from individuals pursuing personal vendettas.”
The statement further underscored the Programme’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, adding that all necessary legal steps would be taken to safeguard its integrity and that of its Administrator.
